 Fridge
"Eph Reissue" 2CD
Temporary
Residence Ltd.
Genres: electronica, idm, ambient
Temporary Residence
PO Box 22910
Baltimore, MD
21203
Jul 29 - Aug 6 2002 |
Eph,
originally released on Go!Beat Records, never got the attention it
deserved. The label pretty much panned it, never releasing it in the
US and overpricing it significantly, and sales never amounted to much
- despite large critical acclaim. Eventually, the label dropped Fridge,
and Temporary Residence jumped at the chance to reissue it. And, not
only have they re-released Eph in its entirety, but they've
also thrown in a second CD, with the Kinohita Terasaka single,
the Of EP, and two remixes of Eph tracks.
Fridge has done good. Every song on Eph is beautiful.
From the jazz influenced geniuswork of "Transience" and
"Bad Ischl" to the majestic, fairy tale-esque ambiance of
"Yttrium" and "Meum", the album flows perfectly,
keeping a laidback, easy mood going throughout its entirety. It sounds
sort of like a sandwich made up of Nightmares On Wax, Red
Snapper, and a little bit of Plone.
The second CD is fantastic as well. "Kinoshita" is a
complex, beat-y sound sculpture and "Terasaka" is like Pluramon
crossed with Rest Proof Clockwork-era Plaid and a bit of
Ken Vandermark! The Of EP tracks are also astounding,
including an obligatory, but always welcome, Dub Mix. This dub version
is done particularly well, rolling along slowly in a delectable manner
until it builds up to a powerful climax and then cools down again. P.
Pulsinger's remix of "Bad Ischl" is another hit, taking
the original and converting it into an amazing symphony of electronics
and beats.
For years, Eph was a mythological album - the type all the
critics raved about yet nobody could purchase. It seemed impossible
that any record could live up to the acclaim that had been spread by
the few who had heard it. There was no way it could possibly be that
good. Well shit, this really is that good - in fact, it's Eph-ing
terrific!
90%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
99 min 40 sec; 17 tracks; distributed by Insound;
released 2001] |
